DOJ Won't Pursue Case Against CIA For Spying On Senate Staffers Or Against Senate Staffers For Handling CIA Documents

from the because-that-would-involve-work dept

As you may recall, a few months back, a big story broke involving the CIA spying on Senate Intelligence Committee staffers who were investigating the CIA's torture program. The details revealed that in the course of their investigation, the CIA had given the staffers an internal document they didn't think they'd given them, which revealed that an internal CIA analysis more or less agreed with the Senate analysis (which has been described as "scathing"). This was a very different position than what the CIA had said publicly. After some in the Senate had asked for the "full report" rather than the draft that the staffers had been given, the CIA believed (incorrectly it appears) that the staffers had gotten access to unauthorized classified materials, and searched the special private network that had been set up just for those staffers. This happened after previous problems with the CIA doing questionable things concerning the Senate staffers network.

"The department carefully reviewed the matters referred to us and did not find sufficient evidence to warrant a criminal investigation," said Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr.

Perhaps this isn't too surprising. The fact that the CIA itself handed the document to the staffers made that claim a pretty clear dead end. However, the CIA searching through the staffers' computer network always seemed a lot more questionable, but perhaps not criminal. It seems likely that the DOJ realized that to pursue either side in this would create a huge political mess, and it was just easier to let the case go, and let the two sides continue to glare angrily at each other.

4th Branch of Government

We need a fourth branch of government... the inquisitor branch. It will be there only duty to investigate any wrong doing or abuse of power of any of the other branchs and have the full power to remove the official temporarily or permanently...

Re:

"If only Aaron Swartz had gotten the same response from the DOJ..."

Aaron Swartz was a "little people." Only little people are subject to laws. The ogliarchs, the elite, the politicians, the captains of industry and banksters are all immune. The rule of law no longer exists, at least not for all people equally. Now you have the Lords and the Serfs, and the Serfs will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the corrupt law as possible for even the *slightest* infraction, where the Lords can openly flaunt their violation of the same laws and have everyone (such as the DOJ) simply turn their back and do nothing.

I suppose that even though this is now public knowledge, officially none of this happened, and in the end everyone's final findings will be that "maybe some mistakes were made, but there is nothing conclusive". And anyone who "believes" otherwise is some total conspiracy nut.

This has to be the first time the DOJ has refused to use the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). They happily used it to beat Aaron Swartz over the head. But when it comes to the CIA and Senate, the DOJ just lets it slide.